Can I wash and reuse my air purifier filters?

I have a Honeywell air purifier. I washed the carbon pre-filter and the inside HEPA filter. I just read though that you are not supposed to reuse these. Can anyone tell me why? It seems that they should still be usable.

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Best Answer: Adding water to the bacteria, mold, mildew and other organic matter that has been trapped in your filters will cause them to grow extremely fast. There is no way to kill 100% of the living matter in the filter. When it starts to multiply, it will clog the filter or your air filtration system will blow it back into your home. Don't ever reuse HEPA style filters.

There are MUCH better air purification systems available than the HEPA syle filtration machines. The best are "active" purifiers vs. the "passive" syle. Active units can purify the air in a home even when it doesn't pass through the unit. Passive units only treat the air that actually enters and passes through its filters or over the plates. I highly recommend the active style of purifier.

Source(s): Certified Indoor Air Quality Professional

Anonymous · 10 years ago

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RE:
Can I wash and reuse my air purifier filters?
I have a Honeywell air purifier. I washed the carbon pre-filter and the inside HEPA filter. I just read though that you are not supposed to reuse these. Can anyone tell me why? It seems that they should still be usable.

Source(s): wash reuse air purifier filters: https://biturl.im/RViK7

Anonymous · 2 years ago

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The manufacturers won t like you washing the filters as it will reduce their sales of new filters. Just like printer manufacturers don t like you refilling ink cartridges or using third party cartridges. I would try washing them and see how you get on. Some air purifiers do have washable filters, e.g. the Homedics AR-10A http://www.coolheatingreviews.com/vax-air-purifier-reviews/ my hoover also has a washable HEPA filter so it s something that can be done, it s really just whether the filter can stand up to the punishment of a wash. Try washing with cool water and no detergent to start with. If this works next time try some detergent and warmer water.

I currently wash my HEPA filters out from my air cleaning machine. I am able to do this because they are housed in plastic encasings rather than the usual cardboard which is how most are encased. Out of budgeting concerns I have to extend the life of my filters. I soak them for a couple hours in a super hot laundry detergent + biz bleach solution then rinse them out well and then soak them again in a fresh super hot laundry detergent + biz bleach solution overnight then rinse them out well with a little downey in the rinse water and then set them out in the sun to dry. When I go to reuse them my filter gauge always state they are clean so I feel confident they can be extended beyond their usual manufacturer stated life span. Remember though there are only so many times you can do this as the dirt will not completely come out because the fibers of the particulate matter are very fine. I can not make any testament as to the safety of this practice or effectiveness on the filters but it has got to be better than letting them run dirty or not running your machine at all. When I wash them out as described I am amazed at the amout of dirt that comes out. Even on a second wash, overnight soak the water is observed to be filthy the next morning. When I go to run these freshly cleaned filters in the machine they seem to still be effective at filtering the air although they will have a shortened effectiveness with each cleaning becuase the filter material reaches a saturation point where nothing can really be done to extend their life. That's what I do and it seems to work for me.

i have a clean air purifier and i buy my filters 1 every 6 months you cannot wash the filters don't you see they are discustingly dirty and dusty i would not clean them you cant without them falling apart.anyway your not supposed to clean them your supposed to throw them away do as they say they will not work right or you will end up breaking your purifier.

well, anything sitting around will collect all kinds of stuff. So, wash it, but make sure it is dry after it is dried spray some DA or CRC, QD, all over it. Both are alcohols. THAT will kill most anything and anything that survives would have survived the HEPA anyway. Don't buy into all the hype. I'm a material engineer. HEPA refers to fine filtration, and viruses and bacteria are way smaller than the filtration pores.